Orange and Yellow Marigold

Marigold is a common name in English, derived from Mary’s gold, and it was taken from the fact that early Christians placed flowers instead of coins on Mary’s altar as an offering. Marigold is often used in festivities honoring Mary. In Nepalese culture, marigold plays a significant role where marigold garlands are used almost in every household, esp. during the Tihar festival (similar to Diwali) and it is also sold in the markets for daily worships and rituals.

Marigold, rooted to North and South America blooms naturally around the world in colors of golden, orange, yellow and white, often with maroon highlights. The The orange and yellow marigold here was shot at Kodaikanal during one of the visits. 

Linking this post with Floral Friday Foto

Way to Kumbakonam and Mahamaham (travelogue)

Pretext: (Don’t expect me to write on Mahamaham – a Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in the heart of the south Indian temple town Kumanbakonam. And taking dip on Mahamaham kulam (tank) which is believed to bring good deeds and remove sins.)

Mornings are meant to be fresh and traveling during that time would be optimum. And my travel from Ariyalur to Kumbakonam was appropriate with the mood and the activities of morning caught my attention. I could see so many students riding in bicycle to school and most of them were girls. All where pedaling standard bicycles that was given by the state government for free of cost. It was wonderful to see them, cycling in uniform in a line or two, leaving no hindrance to the freeway and utilizing the benefit of government in right way. The free bicycles were provided to all govt. and govt. aided high school students, from very long time, but who utilize the most were the students in rural – with schools at distant. I know some people who have resold their free bicycles (not only cycles, but many freebies) but seeing these students using things to the fullest make feel same. I believe not everyone is in need of freebies and people have better things than the government supplied and the govt. has to realized this and make certain the freebies are given to people who deserve. And by doing so, the taxation could be reduced or utilized for other essential.  

Cheerful yellow blossom,  on en-route to Kumbakonam 

On our way we come across many villages with cafes transformed into mini hotels at the morning hours, providing basic cuisine like hot Idlis, Vada, Dosa etc… and at one place someone transferred a plate full of steaming Idlis from their home to their little shop outside left us with desire. But as we were heading for the temple town (Kumbakonam) with an intention of taking holy dip at the Mahamaham tank, parents hesitate to eat at those outlets as mostly aren’t pure veg! Glad we could find a moderate mess at a village town close to Kumbakonam and parcelled the breakfast and moved out and settled on a by lane aside a dry channel before entering the town. The preparation for the big day (Mahamaham) was in full swing then and many parking’s were created along  the way and about 6 or 7 km away from the Mahamaham tank and we couldn’t access right into the town, but was forced to take the specific routes designed for the Mahamaham festival.

I put on navigation on the Google maps pointing at Mahamaham tank before entering the town and many indications were also kept alongside the roads directing to the tank.  But at a distance of 2 km, the road marked as leading to temple, was blocked and was asked to cover the distance by walk leaving the car somewhere. The weather was hot and walking through it (in bare footed) put pause among others. But we decide to move further to find any other route and as expected the Google maps showed me an alternate way that passes through little streets. I also noticed the distance gets lesser as we move further on the route and at last found a parking lot with a distance less than a km to the tank. Leaving me at the car along with my dad, others went to take dip in the Mahamaham tank and later my cousin returned, taking some quick dips in few wells (yes, there are about 20 wells inside the tank and the water level was sustained to knee) to send my father to partake.

Pretty green  landscape/field near Sirkazhi 

As time passes into noon, the weather become hotter and we couldn’t sit inside the car without switched on to AC. There wasn’t a thing to provide shelter and all cars are parked under scorching sun opposite to a big marriage hall. The people kept arriving and outgoing on all major roads leading to the tank and to my surprise my family returned to the parking lot in an hour and some! I heard from them that people are allowed to enter the tank from one back and exit on the other. Though the tank was crowded it wasn’t complaint but the temples around them have queue that extends for a km kept them away. Going to Kumbakonam and coming out without pictures of a temple and so make disappointing, but I didn’t get a chance to prove it was a temple town. Perhaps I could visit Kumbakonam at any other time in future as that wasn’t the right moment to explore the town and no one could make a way rather designed by the police department.

I could see ample police all over the town and many cops were brought from faraway districts like Thirunelveli and more than 15 gates where created for the Mahamaham to control the crowd. It was estimated as more than 1 million people have taken holy dip at the Mahamaham tank on the Mahamaham day – Feb 22, 2016. On our way back to home, we took ECR (east coast road) via Sirkazhi, Chidambaram and Pondicherry. The roads were pretty fine except going through many curves and speed breakers creating mild difficulty, but the scenes on this road make forget those. Near Kollidam (between Sirkazhi and Chidambaram), we come across rows of shops selling handcrafts made of bamboos. Though we were into late afternoon, we couldn’t stop anywhere to take leisure photos and also on this road we are pleased by the sights of some pretty green fields making vast carpets of green.

One of the many shops that sell bamboo handicrafts near Kollidam (Sirkazhi), on ECR. The shops sell mostly basket swing chairs, rocking easy chairs, stools and fruit baskets all made of bamboos. 

We had our lunch at Sirkazhi and I went for tamarind rice unlike others who went for meals.  It was something I could not forget, because what I ate was tasted as my favourite Puliyotharai which is given in temples. It was a small pure veg. restaurant on the street of Vaitheeswaran Koil – a well-known Hindu temple for palm leaf astrology and the Lord Shiva here is referred as god of healing. We parked the car in front of the hotel and they served me a plate of tamarind rice at my seat. I ever had Puliyotharai as my entire lunch and I could still recollection the flavor and the desire for it continue to exist. We had our evening coffee and snacks at Pondicherry and continue to drive on scenic road, but it doesn’t look scenic anymore as it was on its transformation from state to national highway. Ever like before we witnessed number of vehicles coming on the opposite side of the road which perhaps heading to Mahamaham! 

RGB Monday

A festoon made of colorful beads. 

During a tour to Gujarat, my grandmother bought this wall ornament but it was ripped later and she herself reworked on it. 

Friday Review: Pichaikkaran (Beggar)

I watched the Tamil action drama, Pichaikkaran, from the drive-in on Wed. evening and it is a movie based on the life of a millionaire, who turned down his richness for a time period to save his mother’s life. Arul Selvakumar is a MBA graduate, flew down to India to take charge of his mother’s spinning mills. But within a short span in office his mother met an accident and falls into coma. With no response to any of the treatments, a sage guides him to beg for 48 days with a condition to not to use his influence in anyways and begin each day with bare hands, to get back her mother. The affectionate son decides to go through the term in belief of saving his mother and what all he faces during this course remains the topic.

Actor and music director Vijay Antony played the man behind the subject. Though he couldn’t adapt quite into the look and attitude of a beggar or perhaps the subject doesn’t need it, has given his best in acting and do stunning actions. He carries the look of smart and intelligence throughout the film, reminding his previous roles as Salim. Debuted Satna Titus as his love interest, exhibits elegant acting and the places where she reveals he’s a beggar and the hesitation in practicing with him later were all done in pretty manner.  And of course she’s beautiful!

Already there’s a movie released in Tamil based on beggars. Yes, Bala’s Naan Kadavul had dealt with the subject but were treated with brutal.  The beggars here were shown with little dignity and expressed intelligence, perhaps because the plot was set in metropolitan – Chennai. The movie has some merry scenes esp. the perspective on economics by a beggar gets great applauds at theater, and make certain entertainment. The background score was good and with each drag on the title (pichaiiiikkkkaran) upraise.  

According to director Sasi, the film was an inspiration from the real life story of a millionaire he knows, who would beg for 6 months annually and look after his job the remaining months. Though he didn’t put forth any fact about him, but has done his best communicating the lifestyle of beggars and the public’s perception on them. Particularly this scene where Vijay Antony express annoy when a police handshake him when come to know he’s a millionaire, but who was knocked early in beggar veil. It was a nice execution distinguishes the differences in society. Pichaikkaran – is a social messenger through entertainment. 

My Account on Ariyalur

Waking up early in the morning in Ariyalur was something feels fresh, perhaps the new environment holds the magic and moreover the peaceful ambiance, although the guesthouse we stayed exists adjoining an important junction on the bypass with Lorries passing frequently, doesn’t discourse the mood. The guesthouse has a large garden and unmaintained lawn in the front yard with a pavement to come around. But as soon we arrived the previous night, I decided to explore the garden next day morning before we move to Kumbakonam. The night was cool over there; though we were offered AC rooms, the need for air con doesn’t become certain and we chilled out sometime before hitting the bed.

The rooms allotted for us were spacious, and the lobby itself as sizeable of a hall. We experienced quietness staying there and we the only guests of the house doesn’t expose to any restrictions. In morning we saw many little egrets on the lawn which seems to come in foraging and their presence really made the morning more pleasure and also represents as small statues décor the garden. The guesthouse has some beautiful shrubs (including flowering ones) on both sides of the entrance and the doors also etched some lovely designs that includes floral in bronze. The lobby has reflection panels on all sides above the lintel and for the windows, which keeps away the need for a mirror.

I find the shrubs outside the guesthouse presents a nice background to photograph and I pushed myself to place between them for a portrait to feel content. My father said Ariyalur was surrounded by Cement factories and the popular ones like Arasu, Ramco and Dalmia where among them. And thus it was always busy with lorry traffic and even at night they kept moving on. Ariyalur has no places of interest particularly to mention or I unaware, but the renowned Chola temple Gangaikonda Cholapuram comes under the district of Airyalur. Built by Rajendra Chola I in 1035 AD, the temple modelled similar to the Big Temple in Thanjavur and it’s one of the most visited places in Tamil Nadu.

Some more little egrets on the lawn

I really want to visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram for very long time and last year they commemorated 1000^th year of Rajendra Chola formally ascended the throne in 1014 CE. I really miss visiting the place just been to the district, and no proper planning keeps me away from the destination. We leaved the guesthouse by 8am and moved towards Kumbakonam with a plan of having breakfast on the way. As usual google maps guided us on the short route and the road was good enough but many Lorries passed the way. With no big towns on the route, we settled for a mine hotels/mess adjoining villages and to say the truth it tasted good that high paid restaurants. The hot idly, vada, sambar and chuttni were fulfilling. 

Radiant Sunset and Travel to Ariyalur

Ariyalur is a town in south India and the district capital of same; and it was departed from the Perambalur district, during the former government period. Ever been to Ariyalur, I was depended on Google’s maps for the route and I was directed to the destination via Tittagudi instead going to Perambalur, which is 20km circuitous but take lesser time to reach. Being a fan of state highways and lover of countryside roads, I enjoyed the opportunity of traveling this route with beautiful sightseen of villages and fields. As we are not hurry reaching the place, and we chose Ariyalur just to spend a night before heading to Kumbakonam, the time doesn’t become a matter but experience of nature.

(click photos for enlarge)

This time, even traveling on national highways (NH), I see a difference in sight of scenes which usually seems to be dry and indifferent. The reason for the changes is of course, the late monsoon rain or disaster that flood northern districts of Tamil Nadu.  With abundant water in hand (as lakes and ponds are filled), farmers have transformed their farmlands into flourishing lush green paddy fields and vegetable grounds. I could obviously see the landscapes of green everywhere and once we switched from the NH to countryside road, the scenes were enriched with rural essence. As evenfall approached with a brilliant sunset, we scrolled down the windows glass and took gaze at the radiant show while the temperature kneels down to let greet with cool breeze.

It’s a pleasure to ride with natural breeze taking on the body, just like the early sunshine that is good for health; the sunset is taken with similar advantage of magnificence. I was amazed at the way sun glows down with great illusion, where branches of trees seem to fall behind the bright sphere. Following the sunset, we stopped for tea at a village tea kadai (shop) and to my surprise the tea tasted good. I love drinking tea/coffee from rural tea shops, as I believed they are made of direct cow milk, but it’s a long back story, because I stopped drinking there as I find its quality become worst in later years. I think, almost places people are using only packet milk and a good tea/coffee is priced high.

We reached Ariyalur by late evening and my Google maps navigated us right to the place where rooms where booked for us, without going into the town.  Our cousin brother has booked rooms for us in the tourism guesthouse as it is the only place available to stay and close to Kumbakonam. 

Curious Emus

Behind the beautiful statues in colorful attires that you see in my previous post, there were a dozen emus waiting for us inside an enclosed chain-link fence. The second largest living birds by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich, were seen too curious watching at us and the way they raise their heads and peep out from the fence was funnier.  Usually it was we; the manner (to peek) in getting a clear picture out of hindrance, but the emus copy with the attitude was really amusing.

The soft feathered, brown, flightless emus are protected inside a chain-link fence connected with rusted poles. Though it wasn’t inviting and anyone could give a miss to the birds if not observed due to the abandoned park setting around. It was really good to see more emus than the couple of ones we saw in Javadu hills, and they stare at us with great intense and pointed beak could scare anyone.

Emus can reach up to 6.2 ft in height, and travel great distances and run at a speed of 50km/h if necessary. Interesting to note, emus drink infrequently but take in copious amounts of water when the opportunity arises and they forage on variety of plants and insects and also go for weeks without eating. (source wiki)

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Statues in Traditional Attire

Two weeks back we traveled to Kumbakonam and Ariyalur, on the behalf of my parent’s desire to take dip in Mahamahamkulam (tank) on the occasion of Mahamaham – a Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in the Mahamaham tank located in the heart of the south Indian temple town Kumanbakonam. Though it was a brief visit to both the towns, I enjoyed the moment of being travelled together as families (along with my uncle’s family) and staying at a place overnight. Actually it was my father who wanted to go to Mahamham and we didn’t like him let go alone so decide to go ahead as a family and planned the trip in a very short time.

(click images for enlargement)

We took my uncle’s car rather taking our own. Being planned in a time of short span, our car was not ready for a long drive and we were 8 of us travelled in an Innova placing the wheelchair, tightly fixed into boot and couple of bags on lap and between legroom’s. We plan to start our trip at 10 am but were late by 2 hours and had lunch in a restaurant before Mathuranthagam. Named as Balaji Bhavan, has abundance space around the restaurant and parking lot with shelters, gave me a feel of entered a drive-in hotel. Others went in and had their meals and I settle for sambar satham (rice) that was served at car and the taste was somehow enough to eat.

But what I liked more was the frontage of an abandon park at the rear of the restaurant. As we enter the restaurant, and drive to the parking, I find a traffic police standing in dark and light blue uniform with a sign of stop and the other hand of salute. At glance anyone would think him a real traffic police man, but it was a statue with exact replica. Following him, there were some women statues   representing the different traditional attires of India.  In enriched saris and north Indian salwar, the statues where showy under glowing hot sunshine. But the only woman stature wearing a hat and pinkish gown wasn’t definable. Although I feel the attire resembles Goan style or European tradition.

Beyond that there was something to attract me and more in numbers… but I’m postponing it to next post. 

Hunt for life

Image courtesy: http://www.anshulgautam.in/

Sailed miles overseas
via scorching sunshine, and
thunderstorm menace

Reaching ashore, we
decided to stroll the beach
departing the boat

Tracked the foot imprints
in isolated island,
we hunted for life.

For A Week for Writing: Picture Prompt 

Oriental Magpie Robin

This photo was captured few years back while we reside at our apartment house in Thiruvanmiyur and staying there for about 8 years I got to see many birds, which come in search of prey in the open vegetation that widespread in front of our house. And Magpie robin (oriental) is not a frequent bird to visit the site unlike the water birds, green parrots, babblers, Asian koels and my favorite kingfishers. I remember seen the magpie robin lesser times but this shot comes as a memorable one. Although I have more detailed and clear pictures on birds, this is something make feel special and consider as one of my best shots.

The oriental magpie-robin is a small passerine bird, in distinctive black and white, with a long tail that is usually held upright as they forage on the ground or perch conspicuously. The bird that belongs to Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia is considered as the national bird of Bangladesh. 

Linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS

Btw. I'm very sorry and sad to know and say our fellow blogger buddy, Tina, the EG Camera Girl has passed away along with her husband on 23rd in a car accident. I was really thinking why she haven't update her blog for last few days... she's a regular blogger and blog post at least one daily and I learn more about her place, Ontario, through the blog and she's a greater observer and creative at shoot and finding out things. I am sure to miss her interesting posts and presence in blog. Hope they are rested at peace.

Friday Review: Miruthan

After long back I was at theater (drive-in) to watch the sci-fi thriller Miruthan, which was advertised as India’s first zombie film in Tamil. Jayam Ravi as protagonist and Lakshmi Menon as his love interest, the film was directed by Shakti Soundar Rajan of Naaigal Jaakirathai. I was amused to know he was the director of Naanayam, one of my favorite Tamil films, based on bank robbery but shot on an innovative platform. 

I see Miruthan as an experimental movie and the concept of zombie is pretty new for Tamil audience who haven’t exposed too many zombie movies in Hollywood. Even I wasn’t familiar with this genre. The film begins with a mishap where some toxic fumes split into the road and a stray dog that sniffs become violent and bites a man who in return becomes a zombie and the virus spreads from one human to another through a chain of violent bites.

Jayam Ravi is a traffic police with a grade to become a police inspector, but chose to retain to the former to take care of his little sister. And he loves Lakshmi Menon as one side; although she’s engaged to someone their meeting always end at sending bad reputation about him to her. At this moment the virus spreads rapidly and many zombies rise among the residences of Ooty – from where the story starts, and Jayam Ravi supports the doctors’ team, which includes Lakshmi and let them to Coimbatore in search of antidote to prevent the virus and violent spread through.

Though they reach CBE, the situation blocks them into a shopping mall right opposite to the medical hospital, where a team of doctors waiting for the sample to find prevention, how did they cross the lane full of zombies in killing mane and a bite that could transform them into zombie? Was set in a bizarre and yet light emotional and thriller. Though there are spaces for emotion, the film travels on a matured lane and straightforward keeps the length of movie short.

The director has applied light-hearted moments here and there to keep track on entertainment rather going serious and keep discontent. Kaali Venkat, RNR Manohar and Sriman has done their bit pleasing the audience as naive and Jayam Ravi led his role well and shooting most of them is something sounds overwhelmed. While I appreciate the director for coming up with different subjects, I wish his films carry some realism for us to believe on the concept. I don’t find a strong reason for those becoming zombie, but still has done a good job and leave us with an anticipation and fierce version 2! 

Summer Bizarre

The summer breeze began to blow
amid the hot weather; I cherish
some indescribable pleasure
while I lay back and take comfort.

Though the back drench in sweat
some sweet memories wipe me behind
and to be upfront, the silent afternoon
quietly unfold things that enticed me.

Recline on the powered wheelchair
I feel like floating in the air
without a runway to take off
the wind uplifts me despite the ability.

The bizarre sunshine in high degree
advanced the season of summer
and the summer vacations beckon
to become an everlasting energy. 

RGB Monday

Colorfully painted pots comprising the colors of red, green and blue! 

The picture was shot at Panruti, a south Indian town popular for its jack-fruits and cashew nuts, and the clay pots are displayed for sale on the roadside. 

From this moment on...

There are innumerable moments in life but remembering one particular moment where I took oath to do or not something is pretty hard to recollect. I haven’t took anything serious to remember a moment but there are certain places, in the journey of life, the collection of phases from different time moment converts me to be like this and that. I love traveling from the beginning and I could not sleep well (in the excitement) whenever I know I’m going to travel by next day but until 2006 or before started bogging I wasn’t passionate on traveling. I bought internet connection in 2003-04 mainly for learning about places and checking it virtually as I could not go to see all the places due to my immobility, at least let me explore the places online.

Pic by Jeevan

In Dec 2005, we bought an apartment flat and moved out of our native house, and during that event my uncle captured some photos with his digital camera which I uploaded in my computer and shared on the blog. This was the turning point and the feel I got by sharing photos and friend’s feedback inspired me to show more interest on photography. Then on I kept looking forward for a camera to shoot and share. At this moment, understanding my interest, my cousin’s conveyed my desire to his father who in return giveaway his camera to me and thus began the journey, the inspiration for the travel. The May 2006 Kodaikanal vacation ignites both the interest and rather taking portraits and group photos my passion for nature shoot began there.

But the real excitement of photography and traveling begin in year 2008, when I upgraded to 8 megapixel camera from the mere 3 mp and the micro mode in that makes feel delight shooting items on close distance and getting enriched detail. The Valparai visit on the same year was my first adventure travel and wild shooting. And writing about my experience and narrating the stories of traveling was another exciting phase I always look forward to relive the moments through words and photos. To say from this moment on, photography and traveling has transformed my intention of living and my blogging style also become different from just knowledge and facts based posts. And to say from this moment on, blogging has changed me so much and gave some hope to look forward in life. 

For A Week for Writing: Prompt 97 - From this moment on

Sunbeam

image:google

I wake up to a flash of light;
a sunbeam peeking into my bedroom 
through the window’s pane 
trying hard to reveal my secrets 
without knowing it has censor panels.

Perhaps in the wildest of dream 
anything is possible, under the blanket, 
unless you become a partner in life 
whoever it may be – even the sunbeam 
doesn’t have the privilege to unveil. 

A walk back in memory and demise of my friend’s father!

One of my childhood friends father passed away on Friday and he’s not only my friend’s father but a long time neighbor and family friends whose relationship were grown from my grandparents generation. Karthi and Vela are our (me and bro) best childhood friends and our friendship lasted for very long time but only Karthi was in touch with me and even after we shifted our home a decade back we used to enquire every time meeting either. But after shifted back to the neighborhood (close to our native house here) a year back, I happen to meet him often while coming around the neighborhood in the wheelchair by evenings, and I also meet his father while crossing his home where he used to be reading newspaper sitting outside his home. I can’t believe he’s no more! Even few days before his death, he inquired me on walk – what they refer me to be out in wheelchair and he showed no sign of demise. A severe cardiac arrest, all of sudden, ceased his breath.

To describe our relationship, I need to go back to the childhood days and back from school most of our evenings were spent at their home front (which was at our backstreet), playing with our best friends – Karthi and Vela. During those times he used to come back from work, pedalling his bicycle but we continue engage with the play and I showed little or no attention towards him unlike his bike. He was working in a private company and his only mode of commute to work was in bicycle, the traditional one aka utility bicycle. A classmate of my uncle (dad’s brother), he’s a very family man and irrelevant to anything outside his family and showed great care for his children and though economically backward he was more concern about their studies and health. For any ailment he would take them to the ESI (Employees’ State Insurance) hospital, which is a self-financing social security and health insurance scheme for Indian workers with less income. Placing one in front and back, he used to pedal them to the hospital. The way he fed his son with cough syrup is still vivid in my memories J

His elder son and my friend Vela is a very intelligent student and so bright in studies. I have seen him even correcting his classmates’ exam notes that were given to him by their school teacher and he was such genuine in his assignment showing no favor to anyone even if they are his close friends. Being family friends, his father treated us no different and we even had fun playing at their bed room, jumping here and there and he never scold us anyone. One time, he took me to beach along with his sons in the bicycle; putting his younger one in the baby seat in front; me and Vela shared the rear carrier. We had fun playing at the beach sand and the duo went against the waves to take bath in sea and a scare being, I decided to stay back in shore taking care of their things while they enjoy the waves. Anytime he sees me, he never fails to enquire and also tease me sometime with nothing ill inside. Moreover, I ever seen him serious and an easy going personality really makes me wonder what cause him heart attack. I know a person’s attitude doesn’t expose on his health but ignorance plays an important role and being unaware of the causes and symptoms of heart attack pull us into trouble that leads to nothing but death.

I know he has experienced mild stroke in past that forced him to drop his security job, after the company he worked was shut down or he left the job. The only complaint or disappoint I hold for him was that he stayed away from his mother due to some personal regrets related to their transformation from thatched house to a concrete floor. I have watched through their building home and destruction of the former, but my connectivity with the friends (Karthi and Vela) and visit to their house has diminished slowly as my mobility become restricted, the diversion in lifestyle brought each ends loose and tied somewhere. But shifting back to the native neighborhood makes me feel of reconnecting and creates chances to keep in touch… but I didn’t expect this disconnection from him quite. I really forget to say about his wife, who has been a great support to their family not only by love and affection and caring but also economically she aided by grinding flours to others who can’t do themselves at their  home.  Hope his family and my friends gather strength to bear his lose.  

Carnation of India

In our previous house, we had couple of Crape Jasmines aka Moonlight or Carnation of India along the side walk. Native to India, the evergreen shrubs thrive with beautiful pinwheel shaped flowers has dark green leaves and pointed edge. Also known as Nandiar Vattai in Tamil, the shrub grows up to 4-6 feet in height with spread of 6 feet, blooms throughout the year and has flowers in 5 petals clustered to the stem tips. The roots and stem of the shrub has multiple medical benefits and interestingly the flowers of the single form are unscented rather than the double form with pleasant fragrance!

Linking this post with Floral Friday Foto 

Dream of Love

I know she will never exist
but I continue to dream about her
and she is my best companion
and diversion from distress.

It’s a dream that not come while asleep
but keep me awake even at sleeping state,
a shadow continue to steal my space
whether it was sunlight or moonlit.  

I’m uncertain about her physique
but she’s beautiful in every aspect
adapting modernity and tradition,
bearing a mind-set closely exists to mine. 

There’s love, embrace and understanding
but I continue to look forward to her
to begin a course of romance
at our secret meets at street end café.

Dating for more than a decade
although despite whatever has told
there’s no way looking back, but
setting a perfect example of valentine.  

For A Week for Writing: Prompt 96 – Longing 

RGB Monday

I see more than a shade of red, green and blue there!   

(Click pic for enlarge)

The picture was shot at Kodaikanal pointing at a shop that sells cloths along the Lake Road, and looks like the salesman was looking for customer. It was late evening when I shot the photo, while waiting opposite to the shop to have some tea in the cold weather and the shop was illuminated  and the cloths where enhancing to shoot in different colors. Being a hill-station the shop sells dresses that suit for cold season and you could see t-shirts, sweaters, jackets and jerkins there and he also sells colorful scarfs to wear around the neck. 

Indian Palm Squirrel

On a palm tree! The picture was shot at my previous house and the squirrel was running vertically up and down on the coconut palm tree of the neighbor's. The Indian palm squirrel also known as three-striped palm squirrel, is a species of rodent in the family of Sciuridae and it is found naturally in India and Sri Lanka. 

 

A note on memories:

I think Saturdays and squirrels have a link between, because I listening to squirrels chitter mostly on Saturdays. It doesn’t begin now, but from the childhood days I happen to listen to squirrels mostly on Saturdays and that doesn’t mean I don’t hear them on any other days. During my childhood days my parents usually take us to Anantha Padmanabha Swami Temple every Saturday after visiting the Vinayagar temple at Adyar signal, I used to watch squirrels running here and there and chittering along the corridor.

There’s an almond tree on the rear of the sanctum from where the squirrels come into the temple premises and unlike now, the temple used to be empty and calm enough to hear the squirrels shrill clearly. I also used to pick up the almond leaves that fall to the ground after being ripen and bring it to home and have breakfast in it as the leaf was big enough to hold a idly. Sometime I go to tuition on Saturdays (then) and listen to squirrels chitter from the trees nearby the tuition teacher’s home making a diversion from studies.  Whenever I hear squirrels chittering and knowing it was Saturday I am linked back to memories automatically and today is one of those days where I listen to squirrels. 

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Friday Review: 49-O

The comedy king of Tamil cinema, Goundamani, has reappeared in a movie after long back and also led the film titled 49-O. The movie released in Sep 2015 deals with the state of farmers and fertile lands being transformed into housing plots though political satire. Goundamani as the protagonist haven’t come back to do a regular comedy role as hero, which most comedians prefer do to these day but acted prudentially in a serious character along his counter dialogues for what he’s famous for.

Goundamani is a genuine farmer and believes that fertile land is the future, oppose to the farmers decided to sell their fertile land to a real estate company but their poverty forced them to go ahead with the decision and later deceived by the company and local politician. The people realizes their mistake and to help farmers get back their lands, Goundamani come with a plan of promoting his own fertile land but instead of making housing plots he develops  graveyards, beside the lands of farmers to block the business of the company.

As another step to regain their fertile land, they decides to sell their votes instead of politicians fix the amount, usually, they come up with a sum to be paid for vote. Later they nominate their own candidate and propagate for his victory against the local politicians… but unfortunately he was murdered. At that moment, Goundamani starts a pioneering movement and how did that help them to regain their fertile lands is rest of the story. Like one man army, Goundamani bears the entire movie and his age isn’t an issue while his energy level on entertainment front is still adequate.

With simple story, Goundamani’s strong dialogue delivery and script writing upholds the farmer’s struggles and political satire as the highlight of the scenario. The land promoters has been excoriated a lot and much of illusions relevant to the fake promises by them has been revealed in fun manner. The music/songs and cinematography has been average, but nothing to complain about and many scenes have been straightforward so the film concludes in less than 2 hours. The movie is worth watching for the strong social message that supports the value system of farming and re-entry of Goundamani - for his political counter! 

Btw. 49-O is a rule referred to The Conduct of Elections Rules in Indian, a procedure to be followed when a valid voter decides not to cast his vote and decides to record this fact.